Jamaican Soul Labels

[Roburt]

i think your make things up on the above posts

NO MAN, I was there ... like, serious man, in Kingston with Scratch & King Tubby.

Me and Gregory Isaacs down on North Parade buying weed for Kegsy, then back in the studio with Scratch making mystical music.

... BUT seriously, if you're saying I fabricated any of the above label pictures or made up any of the actual data connected with records I posted scans of, then you are just SO WRONG.

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Some years ago I had Jerry Williams - Run Run Roadrunner on Jamacian, only thing is it was on Calla, not Musicor, but had the Musicor cat numbers on it... since sold it on but an interesting one which relates to those 7ts boots you mention.

Mal

Scanner's on the fritz at the moment so I can't put a picture up here, but among the 20+ Jamaican pressings of soul 45s that have arrived at Rounce Towers this week (not one of them with a photocopied label, funnily enough...) is a copy of Doris Duke's Canyon 45 'To The Other Woman' - on Calla...

I know that Swamp Dogg was a pal of a guy named Alty East, a Jamaican who promoted shows in Miami and who had the B R A label with Byron Lee and Ronnie Nasralla in the 60s. East also moved with the nefarious Coxsone Dodd.

I wonder therefore if Dodd and Swamp also had a little 'arrangement' about releasing his productions, legally or otherwise?

Edited July 27, 2012 by TONY ROUNCE

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Got a Jamaican Stax copy of the Soul Children's "The Sweeter He Is" here somewhere ... but its not in either of my Caribbean 45 boxes so can't take a photo of it to post here at present. Its just black text (& logo) on a white label though (if I'm remembering correctly) & is on the old Stax logo (the pile of 45's).

The US version of this Soul Children single is however on the newer yellow label with the Stax 'finger snapping logo'.

The Ja. press of 'The Sweeter He Is' (by the reputable firm Record Specialists Ltd, who distributed Stax from 1968 until its demise in 1974-5) is actually one of the few from its particular time that is on the fingerclickin' Stax logo. All copies that I've ever seen (and indeed the one I own) has red print on a yellow background.

I have upwards of 25 post-1968 Stax Ja. pressings. Not a single one of them has black print on a white background. Of the two dozen plus later ones that I have, only three - Soul Children, Rufus Thomas' I'll Be Your Santa Baby (silver print on pillarbox red background) and Mel & Tim's 'The Same Folks' (silver print on mauve background) have the 'fingerclickin' logo.

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that some might exist with both label designs, of course.

[Roburt]

Ohh God, I'll have to go looking for that dimn Ja. Soul Children 45 now & it could be in any one of 60 boxes !!!

........... the wife ain't gonna be happy.

[Tlscapital]

I had some 15 years ago in my hands few (5 or 6) NOS Jerry Williams 'run run...' on Ja Musicor (white label and black print), maybe not sixties but at leat seventies presses. All of them were off centered and played with distortion. So I didn't bought them then. A variation to your Ja Calla. Tim

Some years ago I had Jerry Williams - Run Run Roadrunner on Jamacian, only thing is it was on Calla, not Musicor, but had the Musicor cat numbers on it... since sold it on but an interesting one which relates to those 7ts boots you mention.

Mal

[Roburt]

You must be wrong Tim, coz if Tony doesn't have one of em, they can't possibly exist.

Just like my Ja. Soul Children Stax 45 with an old style logo (or any of the numerous 'photo copied US label' Ja 45 labels that I have already posted up on this thread).

After all, he has thousands of Jamaican pressed soul and pop 45s and so other label types can't possibly exist, especially any that have 'photo copied US label' type designs placed on them.

Mind you, my problem is that I develop wildly inaccurate theories that are all of my own invention. I just hope that you are not as 'delusional' as I obviously am.

Edited July 27, 2012 by Roburt

[Guest Roddy]

Byron Lee Wide awake in a dream on BRA

[Roburt]

... and a few Jerri / Jerry Jones sides (produced by Jerry Williams) escaped on Pal (a Bra label).

Pal & Bra Records were based out of P.O. Box 333, Tamiami Station.

Mind you, I probably just made all of that info up !!

Edited July 27, 2012 by Roburt

[Kegsy]

NO MAN, I was there ... like, serious man, in Kingston with Scratch & King Tubby.

Me and Gregory Isaacs down on North Parade buying weed for Kegsy, then back in the studio with Scratch making mystical music.

...

What a day that was, Err I think it was anyway err.

Well I cant actually remember being there, however that does not necesarily

mean I wasnt.

kegsy

Edited July 27, 2012 by Kegsy

[Kegsy]

Actually to contribute to the thread.

I'm sure I have something by Arthur Conley or possible Wilson Pickett on Ja Motown label.

Kegsy

Edited July 27, 2012 by Kegsy

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

... and a few Jerri / Jerry Jones sides (produced by Jerry Williams) escaped on Pal (a Bra label).

Pal & Bra Records were based out of P.O. Box 333, Tamiami Station.

Mind you, I probably just made all of that info up !!

No, that's all correct. I'm confirming that it is, so it must be...

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Thanks to Brother S. Hampsey - a man in whose word you can always believe - I have now been offered concrete proof that 'The Sweeter He Is' exists on both designs of Stax - the one with the older logo has blue print on an off white background (if it was paint colouring it would be called magnolia).

I can't say I'm surprised to find this out from a 100% reputable source. I know that 'The Sweeter' was a Top 10 record in Jamaica, so I guess that no one should be surprised to find that it comes in multiple designs.

No photocopied labels, though...

[Roburt]

Actually to contribute to the thread.

I'm sure I have something by Arthur Conley or possible Wilson Pickett on Ja Motown label.

Kegsy

It's most probably a Wilson Pickett on Ja Motown, from the period (1987) when he recut "In The Midnight Hour" (& a full LP) that escaped on Motown .....

....

[Roburt]

Thanks to Brother S. Hampsey - a man in whose word you can always believe - I have now been offered concrete proof that 'The Sweeter He Is' exists on both designs of Stax - the one with the older logo has blue print on an off white background (if it was paint colouring it would be called magnolia).

I can't say I'm surprised to find this out from a 100% reputable source. I know that 'The Sweeter' was a Top 10 record in Jamaica, so I guess that no one should be surprised to find that it comes in multiple designs.

No photocopied labels, though...

So you will agree that the 'other' version of the Soul Children's Ja 45 isn't all of my own invention then ??

... and as I have posted numerous label scans of Ja 45's utilising 'photo copied' US labels, they can't be of my own invention either.

So maybe I'm not delusional after all, phew, I can sleep easy now.

[Kris Holmes]

i think your use of the term "photocopied" is causing confusion. None of the Jamaican 45s you posted have what I'd term as "photocopied" labels.

[Roburt]

You're right, the Jamaican's just took a US label and took a photo of it & copied the photo (or whatever actual means was used back in the 70's/ 80's to capture an image) to make their version of various major American labels.

.... so I admit, I'm totally wrong saying they photocopied these US labels

..... .... what they actually did was that they photo copied the US labels.

................... a completely different thing altogether (!?!?!?!).

I can see now why that Mr. Rounce said I just develop wildly inaccurate theories that are all of my own invention.

[Kris Holmes]

just trying to help

[Tiberius]

Here's one which often turns up -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Soul-45-SAM-DEES-FRAGILE-HANDLE-WITH-CARE-SAVE-THE-LOVE-AT-ANY-COST-/160838776362?pt=UK_Records&hash=item2572bcf62a

Incidentally, anyone know what the sound quality is like on these JA pressed ATLANTIC 45's?

This one sounds fine in the sound file -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-SOUL-SAM-DEES-Fragile-handle-with-care-JA-ISSUE-/300747140164?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item4605ed2c44

Do most? Can't imagine quality control would be as good as USA pressed copies.

Often seems the case with some 45's pressed in the Caribbean sounding like they hadn't got a good source for mastering, like og master tape, so used another 45, or recording from a 45, which often appears to have been a well worn copy at that! Add to that the often very poor vinyl quality used and you get some mint/ex condition 45's which sound awful on playing. Some of the WIRL stuff is pretty inconsistent.

[Jimmy A]

The only one i have ....i think

[Kris Holmes]

Here's one which often turns up -

https://www.ebay.com/...=item2572bcf62a

Incidentally, anyone know what the sound quality is like on these JA pressed ATLANTIC 45's?

This one sounds fine in the sound file -

https://www.ebay.com/...=item4605ed2c44

Do most? Can't imagine quality control would be as good as USA pressed copies.

Often seems the case with some 45's pressed in the Caribbean sounding like they hadn't got a good source for mastering, like og master tape, so used another 45, or recording from a 45, which often appears to have been a well worn copy at that! Add to that the often very poor vinyl quality used and you get some mint/ex condition 45's which sound awful on playing. Some of the WIRL stuff is pretty inconsistent.

in my experience, inconsistent is a nice way of putting it.

[Tiberius]

in my experience, inconsistent is a nice way of putting it.

I forgot to put the inverted commas around the word inconsistent.

[Roburt]

I think there are two distinct lots of Ja Atlantic 45's .......

1960's ones that actually came out around the time the cuts were 1st released in the US .....

.. & then some 1960's Atlantic label 45's that seemed to turn up (looking if not sounding new) around 15 years or so later.

It seems someone in Jamaica cottoned on to the fact that it was easy to sell some 1960's Atlantic 45's at the end of the 70's (?) & into the 80's.

When I was scanning record shop racks (mainly in Cave Shepherd Dept Store & No.1 Record Shop Ltd -- both in Bridgetown, Barbados) you could find stuff by Don Covay & the Goodtimers (from 1962) & Ben E King (1965) alongside 1974 singles by the Persuaders,1975 offerings from R B Hudman, 1976 Mass Production cuts (actually on Cotillion), 1981 Kleer 45's and 1987 offerings from Levert & Miki Howard .... and neither of those record stores stocked 2nd hand items, all as new from the warehouse.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Roburt

[Roburt]

A typical US Polydor 45 from the late 70's (for comparison purposes -- see next post )....

Well the 45 is typical, the producer (Frank Wilson; Spec-o-lite) & the group (Alton McLain & Destiny) weren't typical Polydor fodder ....

[Roburt]

A 1980's Ja Polydor 45 ...... It looks like the Caribbean licensee took some blank US Polydor labels & had them printed up properly (by photo copying the original blank & running off copies in a Kingston print shop). HOWEVER on this one they seem to have gotten the scaling wrong as the label when produced appears to be way too big to fit properly on a 45.

The Ja Polydor blanks must then have been sent to the record label where initially the 'MFG UNDER LICENSE BY DYNAMIC SOUNDS' seems to have been added to them all -- the quality of this printing seems way inferior to the 'MANUFACTURED BY POLYDOR, NEW YORK' line.

Then finally, the print that relates to this specific 45 seems to have been added.

BUT as this label has been made too big for the single it was to be attached to, lots of the stuff printed towards the edge of the label has been lost .... so there is no Polydor logo (black half record) above the label name & much of the US manufacturing data line has also gone off the edge of the label ....

The label has also been fixed off-centre, again not helping. Ja quality control strikes agin !!

Edited July 28, 2012 by Roburt

[Roburt]

It's easy to see the sequence in which the print has been added on this label ....

The data that has come off the original US label went on first (& this was done to a decent standard) ... thus it's easy to read the 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York text.

Next the 'MFG by DYNAMIC SOUND, 15 BELL RD' has been added on top in black ink (not to the same standard).

Finally, the text that relates to the specific 45 has been added in silver ink (this going over the top of the black 'DYNAMIC SOUNDS' line which itself is on top of the New York address info).

So once again it seems plain to me that a photo copy of the original US label has been made & then the local licensee has added their info over the top of the US label data.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Roburt

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

You're right, the Jamaican's just took a US label and took a photo of it & copied the photo (or whatever actual means was used back in the 70's/ 80's to capture an image) to make their version of various major American labels.

.... so I admit, I'm totally wrong saying they photocopied these US labels

..... .... what they actually did was that they photo copied the US labels.

................... a completely different thing altogether (!?!?!?!).

I can see now why that Mr. Rounce said I just develop wildly inaccurate theories that are all of my own invention.

...I would call you a smartarse but to do so would imply you're smart, so I won't bother. I'm just glad to see you agreeing with me that your theories are wildly inaccurate.

When I need a lesson in the Jamaican record business from someone whose total knowledge of Caribbean pressings appears to be based around a trip to Barbados in the late 80s, you will be the first person that I PM, I promise.

[Roburt]

Another Ja 45 label that has been printed OK (this time) but that exercise has been let-down as the label has then been cut & fixed to the 45 off-centre ........

You can see where the bottom edge of the label was meant to be (the darker shadow area) & where the top of the label printed below on the print shop sheet was meant to begin.

Because the label is so off-centre (cut in a higher position than was meant), the 'MFG by DYNAMIC SOUNDS' line also ends up way too high on the actual 45.

[Roburt]

A Ja Atlantic 45 that supposedly dates from 1962 ....

[Roburt]

And a second one that dates from 1975 ....

... if you can ignore the fact that this label has been fixed off-centre & the text printed at a skewed angle to the label layout ...

.... to me this looks to have been made only a few months after the one in the above post .....

[Roburt]

Tony, I see you still have a high opinion for the data I'm posting (calling me a smartarse now).

Just admit you were wrong in your original rubbishing of my post & your subsequent character assassination snipes

... and this whole matter can be laid to rest ...

... otherwise I'm sure folk will just think you are a sore loser who doesn't like his supposed depth of knowledge to be challenged.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Another 'Atlantic family' label ......

On this one, the 'MFG by Dynamic Sounds' line seems to have been printed at the same time as the label name & logo (same colour ink used).

But then what do I know about record manufacturing in the Islands. Think I'll have t ask that nice Mr. Rounce how they did it (after all, I'm sure he will have been there when this 45 was pressed up) !!!

[Roburt]

A Ja Tamla Motown 45 ...... manufactured by Dynamic Sounds ...

..... and they even managed to print up a decent quality label

[Pete S]

Tony,

... otherwise I'm sure folk will just think you are a sore loser who doesn't like his supposed depth of knowledge to be challenged.

I don't really understand this topic but I've been buying Jamaican reggae records for most of my life and having had literally thousands of them, compared to Tony I still know very little so if he says it's so then I take it as gospel, having learnt more from him than any other person on this forum. Just my opinion.

[Roburt]

I respect your opinion Pete, but Mr. Rounce rubbished 2 posts I made here .... & I have now illustrated fully that his views were totally incorrect ....

I have not hurled any abuse at him whilst he has referred to my posts as ' wildly inaccurate theories that are all of my own invention' and then called me a smartarse for proving him wrong.

All I want to do is talk about soul music, but I will not just stand by while someone tries to destroy my reputation & make me out to be an idiot who indulges in wild fantasies.

He may know a lot about Ja records BUT EVEN he don't know it all.

Back to soul; a Ja 45 on RCA that had input from some heavyweights (Don Davis; Belita Woods; etc).

Mind you, it would have been better if someone at Federal Records had looked where the RCA & Victor names were on the label before setting out the track info (& I'm sure Don Davis didn't run Groouesville Music).

[Pete S]

.... if the printed label supply ran out, you just used blank white labels & wrote or stamped on the release info.

The blank labels pre-empt the labelled copies, they are basically demo copies (pre-releases) if they decided to go with it after the pre's became successful they printed them up.

Also I've had a few strange Jamaican records where they have used existing old stock copy labels, and flipped them over to make new 'blanks', you can still read the info on the original label sometimes though it's usually in reverse obviously.

Edited July 29, 2012 by Pete S

[Roburt]

I'll probably get more criticism for expanding the 'theme' of this thread ... but here goes anyway .....

Everyone knows that Ja toasters inspired the early US rappers .... but who was it that got the toasters going in the 1st place.

By all accounts it was Baltimore / Philly / New York / Miami radio DJ Jocko Henderson.

Douglas "Jocko" Henderson ranks up there with the very best (& original) R&B radio disc jockeys. His smooth, swinging, rhymed talkovers were imitated by numerous other jocks in the 1950's / 60's and he was to become one of the major influences for later rappers.

Though his influence on hip-hop was crucial, it took an indirect route as the model for the toasts of early Jamaican sound system DJ's.

Some say that Jocko's syndicated radio shows, beamed into the Caribbean from Miami provided the standard for Jamaican DJ's.

Another story claims that sound system promoter & record producer Coxsone Dodd encountered Jocko on one his record buying trips to the U.S., and encouraged his DJ's to imitate Jocko's style.

However his influence reached Jamaica, titles like "The Great Wuga Wuga" by Sir Lord Comic and "Ace from Space" by U. Roy were catch phrases directly appropriated from Jocko's bag of verbal tricks. When Kool DJ Herc adapted the Jamaican sound system to New York City party crowds, the stylized public address patter that accompanied his bass heavy program was rooted in Jocko's rhyming jive patter.

Jocko started in radio in the Baltimore of 1950, moving to Philadelphia, where he attained enough momentum to arrange a daily commute to New York for a 2nd shift. In New York, he also hosted "Jocko's Rocket Ship", a black oriented TV dance show. He also made many appearances as M.C. on R&B / soul shows (he MC'ed at the Apollo and hosted large scale record hops in ballrooms in various cities.

Jocko also made a few records. In the wake of "Rapper's Delight", Philadelphia international released "Rhythm Talk", an instrumental track over which Jocko ran through his amazing repertoire of oral phrases.

So it seems that Jocko was a major influence on the Ja music scene without him ever having set foot on the Island back in the day.

[TOAD]

more rubbish no FACTS

[Pete S]

I'll probably get more criticism for expanding the 'theme' of this thread ... but here goes anyway .....

Everyone knows that Ja toasters inspired the early US rappers .... but who was it that got the toasters going in the 1st place.

By all accounts it was Baltimore / Philly / New York / Miami radio DJ Jocko Henderson.

Douglas "Jocko" Henderson ranks up there with the very best (& original) R&B radio disc jockeys. His smooth, swinging, rhymed talkovers were imitated by numerous other jocks in the 1950's / 60's and he was to become one of the major influences for later rappers.

Though his influence on hip-hop was crucial, it took an indirect route as the model for the toasts of early Jamaican sound system DJ's.

Some say that Jocko's syndicated radio shows, beamed into the Caribbean from Miami provided the standard for Jamaican DJ's.

Another story claims that sound system promoter & record producer Coxsone Dodd encountered Jocko on one his record buying trips to the U.S., and encouraged his DJ's to imitate Jocko's style.

However his influence reached Jamaica, titles like "The Great Wuga Wuga" by Sir Lord Comic and "Ace from Space" by U. Roy were catch phrases directly appropriated from Jocko's bag of verbal tricks. When Kool DJ Herc adapted the Jamaican sound system to New York City party crowds, the stylized public address patter that accompanied his bass heavy program was rooted in Jocko's rhyming jive patter.

Jocko started in radio in the Baltimore of 1950, moving to Philadelphia, where he attained enough momentum to arrange a daily commute to New York for a 2nd shift. In New York, he also hosted "Jocko's Rocket Ship", a black oriented TV dance show. He also made many appearances as M.C. on R&B / soul shows (he MC'ed at the Apollo and hosted large scale record hops in ballrooms in various cities.

Jocko also made a few records. In the wake of "Rapper's Delight", Philadelphia international released "Rhythm Talk", an instrumental track over which Jocko ran through his amazing repertoire of oral phrases.

So it seems that Jocko was a major influence on the Ja music scene without him ever having set foot on the Island back in the day.

I have two comments, don't know if relevant, toasting was going on way before The Great Wuga Wuga which was a very late ska release (65-66) there's a great LP featuring King Stitt recreating his djing style over sound system hits of 1960-62. Count Machuki predates Stitt I think but there are only a few examples of him on record and I think the earliest might be Alcatraz in 64/65.

Secondly, I think I actually bought that Jocko - Rhythm Talk when it came out, no idea why because after I bought it I realised it wasn't very good (it went "Jocko, Jocko, candy rapper", but I think it was notable for using the backing track to Ain't No Stopping Us Now.

Edited July 29, 2012 by Pete S

[Roburt]

The blank labels pre-empt the labelled copies, they are basically demo copies (pre-releases) if they decided to go with it after the pre's became successful they printed them up.

Also I've had a few strange Jamaican records where they have used existing old stock copy labels, and flipped them over to make new 'blanks', you can still read the info on the original label sometimes though it's usually in reverse obviously.

The parallels between the 'Ja sound system' scene & the UK NS scene are very close at times. The Sound System DJ's / toasters would hook up with one producer (record label or dealer here) & would want exclusives from that studio / label. So, some very limited press 45's would be handed out (with blank labels or labels with hand stamps on them) & these would be kept as 'exclusives' by a particular sound system. To hear that track you had to attend that sound systems show ..... some of these 'exclusives' ended up staying that way with just a few copies pressed up ... other became so popular, that they led to a regular 45 release & even (in some cases) to big sales (on the Islands themselves & overseas).

Lots of Islands developed there own sound (Ja, Trinidad, Barbados, etc) but all were at least influenced by US R&B.

QUESTION: Did the French 'Islands' also go along with the other island's R&B influenced music, don't know enough about the music made on them.

[Pete S]

The parallels between the 'Ja sound system' scene & the UK NS scene are very close at times. The Sound System DJ's / toasters would hook up with one producer (record label or dealer here) & would want exclusives from that studio / label. So, some very limited press 45's would be handed out (with blank labels or labels with hand stamps on them) & these would be kept as 'exclusives' by a particular sound system. To hear that track you had to attend that sound systems show ..... some of these 'exclusives' ended up staying that way with just a few copies pressed up ... other became so popular, that they led to a regular 45 release & even (in some cases) to big sales (on the Islands themselves & overseas).

Lots of Islands developed there own sound (Ja, Trinidad, Barbados, etc) but all were at least influenced by US R&B.

QUESTION: Did the French 'Islands' also go along with the other island's R&B influenced music, don't know enough about the music made on them.

Roburt about the blanks, they were sold in shops as pre-release blanks usually at 7/6, they weren't just sound system exclusives. Yes, they sold to people who wanted to be ahead of the game but more or less every single to be released in Jamaica came out on a pre first. They were usually sold via the producer. Even in England, Pama and Trojan both had white label 'pre' series, many of which never got an actual issue. I've also had UK blanks on Blue Beat, Island, Moodisc and so on.

Typical Derrick Harriott pre

[Roburt]

Pete, although ska was played a lot at nighters when I 1st started attending such dances, I unloaded most of my ska / reggae 45's in the early 70's (when the mortgage payments got too big). Have maintained a 'passing interest' only ever since (though have bought numerous ska / reggae CD's over the last 20 years).

So I know little about how the Ja music scene developed apart from the soul side of things there. Mind you, my big mate Nigel Flood is one of the UK's top reggae DJ's and has been out 'on tour' with some top UK acts (playing his 45's in the intermissions). We always have a long ska session in Charlie Rees' caravan at Cleggy each weekender (which I enjoy enormously).

Don't think I'd ever try to get back into ska collecting though; way too expensive now + too many 'totally trashed' platters out there.

[Pete S]

way too expensive now + too many 'totally trashed' platters out there.

True on both counts but unfortunately it's take it or leave it most of the time as you never know when the next one will come up. I regret selling a lot of records but none more than my Island collection, I didn't have all of them but I had over 200 of the 380 or so. They are irreplaceable.

[Roburt]

Perhaps this is part of the reason why the Soul Children's "The Sweeter He Is" was so popular in Ja .............

... I'm told that loads of people on the Island listened in to Miami radio stns on a regular basis ..........

As the track was No.1 on the radio in Miami, it must have gotten constant plays at that time.

[Guest Glawster]

We Too have quite a lot of reggae singles on Jamaican labels but a couple of years back we picked up a dozen or so Tamla Motown white label records which actually says "manufactured under license in the west indies" with out trawling through boxes to locate them all(Mrs is an Alphabetical order freak) the one I have to hand 'cus we were showing a motown collector it the other day is the jazz crusaders way back home/jackson.

Quick question - Is Im still waiting credited to The Wailers available on a Studio 1 45?

[Soulgalore]

"I'm sure that someone Posted a copy of ROY HAMILTON "Cracking Up Over You" on Jamaican RCA a few years ago"

Sure did...

[Roburt]

The radio DJ's in Miami had their fave artists (many times it would be the singers who would do the DJ's sock jams for free) & so would play their records a lot on their shows.

Roy Hamilton was a regular visitor to Miami to play live shows (& do DJ sock hops I guess), so no doubt his 45s got lots of plays over the MIami airwaves (& thus were heard by listeners in Ja). So it seems only natural that his 45's would be licensed for local release there.

US soul acts would also travel to do live shows on the Islands (Ja, Barbados, etc). Friends of mine tell me tales of seeing Joe Tex perform in Bridgetown, but say he was blown off the stage by Jackie Opel who was his opening act that night.

.... but it wasn't all one-way traffic ........ the Ska Kings hit Miami in 1965 ..........

[Pete S]

The radio DJ's in Miami had their fave artists (many times it would be the singers who would do the DJ's sock jams for free) & so would play their records a lot on their shows.

Roy Hamilton was a regular visitor to Miami to play live shows (& do DJ sock hops I guess), so no doubt his 45s got lots of plays over the MIami airwaves (& thus were heard by listeners in Ja). So it seems only natural that his 45's would be licensed for local release there.

US soul acts would also travel to do live shows on the Islands (Ja, Barbados, etc). Friends of mine tell me tales of seeing Joe Tex perform in Bridgetown, but say he was blown off the stage by Jackie Opel who was his opening act that night.

.... but it wasn't all one-way traffic ........ the Ska Kings hit Miami in 1965 ..........

That was part of the package tour that Jamaica sent to the Worlds Fair in 1964.

[45cellar]

"I'm sure that someone Posted a copy of ROY HAMILTON "Cracking Up Over You" on Jamaican RCA a few years ago"

Sure did...

That's the one, never seen another.

Many Thanks for Posting it again.

[Pete S]

That's the one, never seen another.

Many Thanks for Posting it again.

I know this is going to sound crazy but I don't think that record "looks" Jamaican, can't quite explain why.

[Roburt]

I know this is going to sound crazy but I don't think that record "looks" Jamaican, can't quite explain why.

It was manufactured by Federal Records, the same Ja outfit that did other local releases of US soul 45's. The Tamla Motown 45 I put up in Post 82 also looks 'too slick' to be a Ja Dynamic Sound made item .... guess Federal & Dynamic knew they had to 'do it right' for some US labels or they might have lost their licensing deals.

Dynamic Sound usually released the Columbia / Epic stuff in Ja & didn't seem too bothered about quality control with most of those 45's. Though I have some mid to late 70's Columbia & Epic 45's that state 'Manufactured in Jamaica by CBS (JA) Ltd', so the parent company must have established a local branch for at least a couple of years.

Any idea what local reggae labels Federal released stuff on, it's not a local record company that I recall much about (apart from seeing their details on some locally made soul 45 labels -- they were still the local RCA licensee in 1980 -- see Post 84).

Edited July 29, 2012 by Roburt